Volvo Range Extender – Good for 600 Miles

Volvo is testing three potential range extender technologies with three-cylinder gasoline engines installed to complement electric drive to the front wheels. All the variants feature brake energy regeneration and the engines can run on both gasoline and ethanol (E85).

Two of the solutions are based on the Volvo C30 Electric. In both cases, the standard battery pack has been reduced in size to make room for the combustion engine and its fuel tank.

Based on a C30 Electric with a three-cylinder engine producing 60 bhp installed under the rear load compartment floor, it also has a 10.5 (US) gallons fuel tank.

The engine is connected to a 40 kW generator. The power it generates is used primarily to drive the car's 111 bhp electric motor, but the driver can also choose to let the generator charge the battery, thus increasing the car's operating range on electricity.

The range extender increases the electric car's range by over 600 miles – in addition to the 68 mile range provided by the car's battery pack.

Volvo C30 with Parallel-Connected Range Extender:

Here the car gets a more powerful rear-mounted three-cylinder engine and the same sized fuel tank as the previous car. The difference between this and the first solution is the parallel connection, whereby the turbocharged 190 bhp engine primarily drives the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic. This gives a better fuel efficiency rating when driving with the combustion engine cruising on the highway. Via a 40kW generator the battery can also be charged to give the car increased range on electricity alone.

The electric motor is also a 111 hp unit. The two power sources give the car more than 300 bhp in total, and acceleration from 0-62 mph of less than six seconds.

The range extender improves the car's electric range by more than 600 miles – in addition to the range of up to 46 miles provided by the battery pack.

Volvo V60 with Parallel-Connected Range Extender:

This is a solution whereby the entire drive package is installed under the hood. The 111 bhp electric motor is supplemented with a three-cylinder gasoline turbo engine producing 190 bhp, a two-stage automatic transmission and a 40 kW generator. Power from the combustion engine drives the front wheels via the gearbox and recharges the battery pack whenever needed.

Up to 30 mph, the car is always powered by electricity. The combustion engine is activated at higher speeds. What is more, it charges the battery pack when its charge drops below a predetermined level.

The battery pack is located under the rear load floor and gives the driver a range of 30 miles on electricity alone. The car also has a 16 gallon (US) tank for gasoline or E85.

Again, with this technology, the range extender increases the car's total range by more than more than 600 miles.